Heroes & Villains, the Aston Villa fanzine
Heroes & Villains => Match Threads & Player Ratings => Topic started by: Chipsticks on May 06, 2019, 02:44:15 PM
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Here we go again...
There's 3 dangerous teams in the 4 this year and luckily, the Baggies aren't one of them - we have to fancy our chances.
I think we'll beat them by a few goals and then draw the away leg.
Fingers crossed that Tammy is fit in time.
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I admire your optimism. We have to get at them right from the off.
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1-0 win
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The one concern I would have is that over 8 games this season, we failed to beat any of the 4 sides that finished above us. We might have reasonable rationale for why but, at this stage we are now at the crunch end of the season and we will need to beat two of those 8 teams twice in two weeks.
In Deano we trust. It's going to be close either way.
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How many of the top 4 did we play with a full strength team (and 11 on the pitch) under Deano?
WBA away
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It's also a local derby, not straight forward. This will be tight
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I'd like a 2 goal advantage to take to the Yawnthorns please.
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Aren't they mince at home? A draw at VP may not be so terrible.
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I think they are very dangerous, they have weaknesses and so do we.
This is going to be close.
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4-0 mullering in our favour. Second leg a dead rubber.
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4 0 no chance ! I'd take any win as I fancy us to draw over there.
2 1 Tammy and SJM, the diving Tweenie for them.
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I am totally convinced we will win this 3-1 at home and draw the away leg 1-1.
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Nervous about this. Wouldn't be amazed if we won there so it won't be a disaster if we draw. A nice three or four goal win would be lovely but this is Villa, they'll want to torture us.
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whatever happens we will have to beat them to get through - something we have failed to do against any of the top four this season. Please Villa, do it now,
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Fine margins, we'll win on penalties at The Whorethorns.
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My concern is that I think we have peaked. Can’t see us having the capacity to score more than one goal. Might have a chance over two legs if the matches are as tight as last season against Boro.
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They played 3 at the back at Derby. Philips is back and gives them some legs, but generally I think they're pedestrian and inconsistent all over the park.
Steer
Taylor
Mings
Tuanzebe
Elmo
Whelan
McGinn
El Ghazi
Grealish
Albert
Tammy
I think we're better at the back since February and with the confidence and quality in midfield, with their general disorganised state, then I strongly fancy us.
3-0 Villa.
Fuuuuuuuuuuck the Albion!
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My concern is that I think we have peaked. Can’t see us having the capacity to score more than one goal. Might have a chance over two legs if the matches are as tight as last season against Boro.
To be fair, you didn't predict a single victory during our history making run so it would be a concern if you weren't predicting doom.
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Us 3 them 0.
Draw the second leg.
No sweat ….
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My concern is that I think we have peaked. Can’t see us having the capacity to score more than one goal. Might have a chance over two legs if the matches are as tight as last season against Boro.
To be fair, you didn't predict a single victory during our history making run so it would be a concern if you weren't predicting doom.
Exactly. Stick with me everyone.
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Us 3 them 0.
Draw the second leg.
No sweat ….
It would be nice to turn up on a week Tuesday with a 3 goal cushion in a half empty Hawthorns and coast to Wembley.
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My concern is that we only fuck the yammy fuckers by a three-goal margin. We will fuck these fuckers out of Villa Park, over Smethwick and right into Dingle country. And when they make their way back to Sandwell we will turn up at theirs and put another fucking two past the baggy fuckers.
6-0 on aggregate. c***s!
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D 1-1.
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My concern is that I think we have peaked. Can’t see us having the capacity to score more than one goal. Might have a chance over two legs if the matches are as tight as last season against Boro.
To be fair, you didn't predict a single victory during our history making run so it would be a concern if you weren't predicting doom.
Exactly. Stick with me everyone.
Don't change the lucky boxers for the next 8 days!
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Is it just me, or are they pretty crap ? If we play anywhere near the level we have in the last couple of months I can see us winning both games.
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2-1 Villa
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My concern is that I think we have peaked. Can’t see us having the capacity to score more than one goal. Might have a chance over two legs if the matches are as tight as last season against Boro.
Form between our last two defeats W10 D1.
We are fucked.
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If we'd turn up (I have no doubt we will) then they won't be able to live with us. We owe these cheats, and Saturday is payback day.
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I can't see anything other than a Villa win by a two goal margin.
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My concern is that I think we have peaked. Can’t see us having the capacity to score more than one goal. Might have a chance over two legs if the matches are as tight as last season against Boro.
Form between our last two defeats W10 D1.
We are fucked.
Actually it's a pathetic 32 points from 36 available.
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My concern is that we only fuck the yammy fuckers by a three-goal margin. We will fuck these fuckers out of Villa Park, over Smethwick and right into Dingle country. And when they make their way back to Sandwell we will turn up at theirs and put another fucking two past the baggy fuckers.
6-0 on aggregate. c***s!
I absolutely feckin love this.
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2-1 win.
I'd fancy us to get through even if we draw tbh.
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UTV
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Confirmed already sold out.
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They have better players on paper - we have better form.
Depends whether their 6 week Play Off Purgatory has been a chance for them to recharge or switch off.
It'll be decided in the first leg. Win and we will go through. Draw/Loss and I'd fancy them
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They have better players on paper - we have better form.
No they don't.
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They are up there for a reason and to take them lightly will be a mistake. If we are at our best, then we will press them and hurt them with pace. We have to take care of their front two. I fancy that set pieces will be key.
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I feel that they will target Taylor as the weak link in the back four. He was poor against Norwich so hoping he will play Hause LB who is quicker and much better on the ball …..
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They have better players on paper - we have better form.
No they don't.
Exactly. Who they have got who are better than Mings, Jack, SJM and Tammy?
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I feel physically sick.
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They have better players on paper - we have better form.
No they don't.
Exactly. Who they have got who are better than Mings, Jack, SJM and Tammy?
I think we're better at the back and a lot more mobile in midfield. But our other advantage is that we have a settled side, system and method of play. They're still fannying around with different systems and shoehorning players in.
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Can't wait for it, for some reason I'm not nervous at all.
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1-1 at Villa Park
Then 2-1 to us at The Hawthorns
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Steer
Elmo Tuanzebe Mings Hause
Grealish Whelan SJM
Kodjia Abraham El Ghazi
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Two comfortable wins, home and away, and off to the final. No problem. They have got nothing to worry our fabulous team. Fully fit and ready to go watch us sweep them aside. No sweat.
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Steer
Elmo Tuanzebe Mings Hause
Grealish Whelan SJM
Kodjia Abraham El Ghazi
That's the team for me Hause would be much more effective at LB ……..
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Probably the team I’d go for too, even though it’s very harsh on Taylor.
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I can't see Smith swapping Taylor out for Hause. For me, selection questions are which of Tuanzebe and Hause partners Mings, and Green, Adomah and Kodjia are fighting for the one shirt. Other than that, team picks itself.
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Key will be in midfield I think.
They have decent footballers in there, Barry, Brunt, Livermore etc but recovery pace isn't something they're blessed with so I reckon we can overrun them if ours are all on good form.
They've pretty much conceded as many goals as we have this season so it's not like some brick wall we'll be attacking.
Only issue is Gayle and Rodriguez can knick goals with any part of their body if they get enough crosses into six yard box so I'd be surprised if we kept a clean sheet even if we are dominant.
1-1 would be o.k, 2-1 would be good and 3-1 would be excellent and pretty much job done would be my way of thinking for this.
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Barry's out, I believe. Had an op on his knee in April.
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They were decent enough to finish just above us and our goals for / against is remarkably similar. I think it'll be a close one. 1-0 to us. Tammy.
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I can't see Smith swapping Taylor out for Hause. For me, selection questions are which of Tuanzebe and Hause partners Mings, and Green, Adomah and Kodjia are fighting for the one shirt. Other than that, team picks itself.
Out of Green, Adomah or Kodjia it must be Kodjia.
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3-0
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They have better players on paper - we have better form.
Depends whether their 6 week Play Off Purgatory has been a chance for them to recharge or switch off.
It'll be decided in the first leg. Win and we will go through. Draw/Loss and I'd fancy them
They absolutely do not
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Everybody's confidence is worrying me.
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They've finished above us, done well against us this season already, and are a pretty solid side in most respects.
There's also the concern that this is, for them, a cup final, and that they're going to be pumped up for this game.
To that end, we need to not be overly confident or arrogant about this and realise that Albion are a proper decent side who could easily cause us problems.
I am going to be honest, I see it as being much more testing than most Villa fans do.
I am going for 5-0 to the Villa boys.
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Having spoken to a couple of Baggies supporters, they have absolutely no confidence in their team and think we will batter them...their defence is slow and shit, and their midfield is old, slow and shit even without the injured Barry. My only concern are the 2 cheating bastards up front...Rodriguez isn't a goal scorer but does a lot of work off the ball as a foil for the other little cheating shit. If we play the game on the front foot we will have too much for them in midfield and up front...we just HAVE to be clinical in front of goal. I expect they will get a goal from a dodgy penalty or set piece.
3-1
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Mings will destroy that cheating baggy ******.
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Everybody's confidence is worrying me.
Early afternoon kick offs are generally bollocks.
0-0 or 0-1 to them.
Feel better?
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Only real decisions for me are Hause or Tayor at LB and Green or Adomah at RW. I would be tempted to go for the former over the latter in both cases with the rest of the team picking itself.
From the Albion callers I have heard on WM in the past couple of weeks, it sounds like they have been playing 3-5-2, which I think could give us opportunities to get at them.
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They were decent enough to finish just above us and our goals for / against is remarkably similar. I think it'll be a close one. 1-0 to us. Tammy.
It's hardly a shock, with their squad they should've been comfortable top 2 which is the reason Darren Moore was sacked.
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As long as we do not lose the home leg, I can see us winning at their place.
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For us to win the tie we need to toughen up and learn quickly how to play dirty/sneaky. Two of the teams in the play offs have had players banned for simulation and both have cheated to secure points against us. A strong ref will help, but if not, we need to take care of it ourselves.
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I wish I was as relaxed about this game as most people on here seem to be!
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I wish I was as relaxed about this game as most people on here seem to be!
With our best 11 and playing our football we can beat any of the opposition in the play offs.
We have to trust in Dean Smith and the team if they play to heir potential we will have too much for the others.
But I am far from relaxed
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Only real decisions for me are Hause or Tayor at LB and Green or Adomah at RW. I would be tempted to go for the former over the latter in both cases with the rest of the team picking itself.
From the Albion callers I have heard on WM in the past couple of weeks, it sounds like they have been playing 3-5-2, which I think could give us opportunities to get at them.
Green? He's hopeless. Adomah hasn't been brilliant, but he's a much better option than Green, and I fully expect Albert to start both games, and the final if we get there.
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They were decent enough to finish just above us and our goals for / against is remarkably similar. I think it'll be a close one. 1-0 to us. Tammy.
It's hardly a shock, with their squad they should've been comfortable top 2 which is the reason Darren Moore was sacked.
So should we, which is why Steve Bruce was sacked.
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I wish I was as relaxed about this game as most people on here seem to be!
I'm extremely nervous. We're probably better than them on paper but we could easily get beat here. Their strike force is very, very decent. They'll score at Villa Park. If we can just get some form of win on Saturday I'll be confident we'll go through, since they'll have to go for it at their place and I think we'll be able to pick them off on the break.
I think we'll win both games 2-1, but I imagine I'll be as nervous on Saturday as I have been for any Villa game ever. Tammy's fitness is a concern also.
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I can't see Smith swapping Taylor out for Hause. For me, selection questions are which of Tuanzebe and Hause partners Mings, and Green, Adomah and Kodjia are fighting for the one shirt. Other than that, team picks itself.
Out of Green, Adomah or Kodjia it must be Kodjia.
Not a chance for me, Kodjia arguably cost us the win when he came on v West Brom out wide. He isn't an option for me out wide at all. AA to start for me, Green hasn't impressed sufficiently despite being given multiple chances to nail down a place.
Hause over Taylor for me too, they are a physical side and his extra strength would be useful. 0-0 wouldn't be a bad result, these are no mugs but if we dominate midfield, as we should, then we should go through over 2 legs.
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This could be a game of fine margins and I think we'll have to be at our best to beat them. Incredible to be talking about this game considering I'd written off the playoffs midway through this season. Whatever happens, Villa and Smith have been excellent to get here. Let's finish the job boys.
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1st leg.. Villa 0 Albion 0
2nd leg.. Albion 1 Villa 0.... with 5 mins to go. McGinn equalises on 90 minutes, Jack gets the winner deep into stoppage time.
12 days later we are in different divisions.
Revenge for 1959.
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It seems the biggest choice is between Hourihane and Whelan.
Is there a chance we could play both with Jack and SJM?
Then play Tammy upfront with either el Ghazi or Adomah our wide and allowing any of the midfield to bomb on support, with the added security of Whelan in a holding role.
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doesn't sound workable to me - i think Kodjia needs to in in wide with El Ghazi
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If we were to go 2 upfront (I don't think we will), it would be Davis I'd start with Tammy.
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They were decent enough to finish just above us and our goals for / against is remarkably similar. I think it'll be a close one. 1-0 to us. Tammy.
It's hardly a shock, with their squad they should've been comfortable top 2 which is the reason Darren Moore was sacked.
So should we, which is why Steve Bruce was sacked.
Not with what we started the season really. We hardly had any CBs so Jedinak at the back it was, Tammy didn't start playing for us until middle of September and Jack wasn't really in form until October after getting over the failed Spurs move.
Our squad has been very good since start of February, good depth in all positions and real quality all over the pitch so little different imo to WBA who kept many of their players after relegation.
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A dangerous game.
I would be amazed if he dropped Taylor - Hause will be on the bench and that is great cover for us.
I think Whelan gets the nod over Hourihane in all three games if we get to the final. We are just a better team when he plays in his current form.
For me only decision is Green / Adomah.
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They were decent enough to finish just above us and our goals for / against is remarkably similar. I think it'll be a close one. 1-0 to us. Tammy.
we’ve finished stronger though, haven’t we? Ten wins on the spin and just the one narrow loss whilst fielding a weaker team. Over 2 legs it should be ours. I’m still shitting it though and we shouldn’t underestimate them at all. And I’m sure Dean, the coaching staff and all the players won’t be doing that.
All that said, I still can’t help but think history will play a part. Call it misplaced arrogance if you like and I’m sure they would, but we’re Villa and they’re Albion. They should run that Benjamin Zephaniah video on the big screen just before kickoff!
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I honestly think that over two legs we will win comfortably. I would be more worried if it was just the one game but over two games our class should come through.
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Only real decisions for me are Hause or Tayor at LB and Green or Adomah at RW. I would be tempted to go for the former over the latter in both cases with the rest of the team picking itself.
From the Albion callers I have heard on WM in the past couple of weeks, it sounds like they have been playing 3-5-2, which I think could give us opportunities to get at them.
Green? He's hopeless. Adomah hasn't been brilliant, but he's a much better option than Green, and I fully expect Albert to start both games, and the final if we get there.
A lot of harsh criticism of Green on here, which i don't think he deserves tbh. He's only 20 ffs.
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A dangerous game.
I would be amazed if he dropped Taylor - Hause will be on the bench and that is great cover for us.
I think Whelan gets the nod over Hourihane in all three games if we get to the final. We are just a better team when he plays in his current form.
For me only decision is Green / Adomah.
Agree with all of that.
I'd pick Adomah for the first leg. Better at tracking back. And also Green is more useful as an impact sub.
I'd also make sure Davis is on the bench. He's looked sharp in his last couple of sub appearance. Good option to have if we need to push another striker on.
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I’m really relieved El Ghazi’s red was overturned. I’d start with Adomah on the other side, over Green.
Question for me is what to do about Kodjia and Abraham. Tammy’s goal tally speaks for itself, but JK has been finding the net recently. It’s a big, big call to leave out a striker who has been scoring.
I’d be maybe tempted to start with JK in all honesty and give Abraham
an extra week’s recovery and training. They’ll all be bang up for this I reckon.
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A dangerous game.
I would be amazed if he dropped Taylor - Hause will be on the bench and that is great cover for us.
I think Whelan gets the nod over Hourihane in all three games if we get to the final. We are just a better team when he plays in his current form.
For me only decision is Green / Adomah.
Agree with all of that.
I'd pick Adomah for the first leg. Better at tracking back. And also Green is more useful as an impact sub.
I'd also make sure Davis is on the bench. He's looked sharp in his last couple of sub appearance. Good option to have if we need to push another striker on.
El Ghazi, Adomah, Green, Kodjia, Abraham, Davis, I'd have all six involved for all three games. Three start, three on the bench. Hause & Tuanzebe likewise, either one on the bench gives us effective cover across the whole back four if the other's already on the pitch. Hourihane too, leaves one seat in the dugout. I think it'll be Jedinak, gives us a couple of options.
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Definitely would not change Taylor - and I have been a huge critic of his.
Previously he would get to the half way line and have a nervous breakdown - in our great run his link up and overlapping with El Ghazi has been superb and has been getting further forward than I have seen him in all the time previously. He has even found his way into the box on occasion.
The same for Elmo - as much as we all love Hutton the amount of exposure he gave their left winger on Saturday was unbelievable and accounted for the first if not both goals. It proves what a decent RB Elmo is as well as what he offers going forward with some excellent crosses.
I am hoping the football gods remember how they kicked lumps out of Grealish and blatantly cheated with the hand ball and right the wrongs but if honest we drew that game because of missed chances more - we cannot afford that this time.
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It's definitely in our hands this one, but it will be tetchy and edgy. I think like a lot of others if we convert our changes we'll be fine, if we're as profligate as we have been of late we might only manage a draw. Since they won't be playing much route 1 then Jedinak is probably not needed at all. I would play Albert over Green as this is a big game and we're not sure how Green will react - at least Alberts been there before.
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Back in Jan/Feb I was very confident we could make the play-offs if we could rediscover the early December form, get Jack back fit and the new defenders clicked. Now we are there I don't feel very confident at all.
The reasons being I think we have been fluffing too many chances recently and although the defence is massively improved, we always seem to have at least one error in us that always seems to get punished. Plus I can see the meatheads heavily targeting Jack.
We are due a bit of luck against the boggies though so I think we'll sneak the home leg 1-0 or 2-1.
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I'm very confident that we'll win on Saturday. That said, can whoever has installed a washing machine in my stomach please come and switch it off? Cheers
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Most important Villa Albion game since the Cup Final at Crystal Palace in 1895?? We scored the winner after 30 seconds....
If it's an omen, I went for a walk around Crystal Palace park, scene of that victory, yesterday.
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Albert Adomah? I remember when he was good. Never witnessed a players form disappear and not return to make at least make a few fleeting appearances. He works his socks off and helps defensively but blimey he seems a spent force in the attacking sense. If he can by some miracle regain a smidgen for the playoffs please.
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It would be good to avenge that meek 0-2 surrender earlier this season. Hopefully by enough to make the 2nd leg a formality.
Maybe Woodhall's rant will get an airing? With updates....
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Back in Jan/Feb I was very confident we could make the play-offs if we could rediscover the early December form, get Jack back fit and the new defenders clicked. Now we are there I don't feel very confident at all.
The reasons being I think we have been fluffing too many chances recently and although the defence is massively improved, we always seem to have at least one error in us that always seems to get punished. Plus I can see the meatheads heavily targeting Jack.
We are due a bit of luck against the boggies though so I think we'll sneak the home leg 1-0 or 2-1.
During the ten match winning run, we kept 5 clean sheets, and only conceded 5 goals in total. We scored 23.
Stop worrying!
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I feel we are balanced and have good mobility in midfield, with lots of guile. We create plenty and have a striker who can stick them away. Suddenly we are organised at the back and have full backs who are effective going forwards. We deal with both pace and the high ball well defensively too.
These are our strengths, but beyond what we see from our style of play, its the intangible. There is a confidence about the squad that you can almost reach out and touch. We are full of belief and when you add that onto the strengths, it makes you confident.
The Albion have some good players. Phillips in midfield, their two forwards, their experience in Brunt etc. But they feel very much thrown together. They've sacked a manager and have no clear style of play. They're not good enough to play out from the back and have reverted to a 352. They are largely pedestrian in midfield and until they played 352, one of their forwards was shoehorned out wide.
Whereas I can look at us this year and see what we can do, I feel there's a element of Bruce's squad last year about them. Its more scoop up enough numbers and chuck them at the opposition to see what happens, as their forwards are capable of digging them out of holes.
There is the tangible sense of disorganization and a lack of belief in them. That's why I think we'll win and I hope we run all over them first leg to make a week today as comfortable as it possibly can be.
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There are only 3 certainties in life Death, Taxes and Albion cheating.
Overcome that and a decent ref, we win.
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There are only 3 certainties in life Death, Taxes and Albion cheating.
Overcome that and a decent ref, we win.
Too many variables!
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Albert Adomah? I remember when he was good. Never witnessed a players form disappear and not return to make at least make a few fleeting appearances. He works his socks off and helps defensively but blimey he seems a spent force in the attacking sense. If he can by some miracle regain a smidgen for the playoffs please.
Scored a cracker at Leeds a couple of weeks ago! L
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Back in Jan/Feb I was very confident we could make the play-offs if we could rediscover the early December form, get Jack back fit and the new defenders clicked. Now we are there I don't feel very confident at all.
The reasons being I think we have been fluffing too many chances recently and although the defence is massively improved, we always seem to have at least one error in us that always seems to get punished. Plus I can see the meatheads heavily targeting Jack.
We are due a bit of luck against the boggies though so I think we'll sneak the home leg 1-0 or 2-1.
During the ten match winning run, we kept 5 clean sheets, and only conceded 5 goals in total. We scored 23.
Stop worrying!
No side has successfully targeted Grealish. Bring it on, let them try. They will fail. He's not lost in a Villa shirt since October.
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Dean has us playing to a system which is clearly working and all the players know their roles in the system so making changes doesn't impact upon the team. Any suggestions for changing formation or tactics won't and shouldn't happen at this stage.
I think we'll dominate possession but the key is being clinical in front of goal and putting our chances away. Every player needs to be in the mindset that a goal scoring chance is their only one of the game, be ruthless and put it away. As long as we don't sit back and stay on the front foot then we should win this and take at least a 2 goal lead in to the second leg.
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For me this is the obvious team:
Steer
Elmo - Tuanzebe - Mings - Taylor
Whelan
McGinn - Grealish
Adomah - Abraham - El Ghazi
Subs: Hourihane, Hause, Davis, Kodjia, Green, Kalinic
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If Hause is fully match fit then I'd have him in there alongside Mings. They have a good partnership and Axel has looked a bit of the pace in the last few games.
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For me this is the obvious team:
Steer
Elmo - Tuanzebe - Mings - Taylor
Whelan
McGinn - Grealish
Adomah - Abraham - El Ghazi
Subs: Hourihane, Hause, Davis, Kodjia, Green, Kalinic
From what I can tell, here is what they are likely to line up as. Excellent keeper, bruisers at back, 45 goals from the front two this season. Johansen seems to have an excellent signing, played very well against us in playoff final last summer too.
--------------Johnstone
----Dawson, Bartley, Hegazi
Holgate, Harper, Johansen, Brunt, Gibbs
------------Gayle, Rodrigues
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For me this is the obvious team:
Steer
Elmo - Tuanzebe - Mings - Taylor
Whelan
McGinn - Grealish
Adomah - Abraham - El Ghazi
Subs: Hourihane, Hause, Davis, Kodjia, Green, Kalinic
From what I can tell, here is what they are likely to line up as. Excellent keeper, bruisers at back, 45 goals from the front two this season. Johansen seems to have an excellent signing, played very well against us in playoff final last summer too.
--------------Johnstone
----Dawson, Bartley, Hegazi
Holgate, Harper, Johansen, Brunt, Gibbs
------------Gayle, Rodrigues
They have been saying Bartley and Harper are both poor, the latter having no ability to do defensive work.
I think 352 would suit us, as we match them well for pace in Tuanzebe (probably the fastest player in the league) and Mings who is quick at a gallop too. Key is ensuring our full backs can push up high to turn 3 into a 5 and isolate their front two.
Brunt and Johansen are not the quickest and we're mobile as they come with Grealish and McGinn, which suits us given possession in 352 is critical. Dominate the ball and we perhaps make them stretch the game. I'd back our centre halves chasing their front two down all day and definitely in the air.
I would be surprised if Shan did not change the system again and go for a 451, with Gayle wide and Phillips brought back in. I think Brunt will certainly start, with Johansen anchoring. Again though, our mobility and speed of transition is where we have the edge.
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Johnstone has had a lot of critics from Baggies fans this season too...let's hope Agent Johnstone doesn't have his best games of the season in the playoffs.
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Albert Adomah? I remember when he was good. Never witnessed a players form disappear and not return to make at least make a few fleeting appearances. He works his socks off and helps defensively but blimey he seems a spent force in the attacking sense. If he can by some miracle regain a smidgen for the playoffs please.
Scored a cracker at Leeds a couple of weeks ago! L
True a worldy. You would have thought he’d be really turning in some great performances knowing he’s out of contract soon (I think?)
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I think we will batter the fucking arsewipes. 6-3 on aggregate.
On a different note, I might have Woodhall's rant buried in an email somewhere so will have a look for it later.
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I think we will batter the fucking arsewipes. 6-3 on aggregate.
On a different note, I might have Woodhall's rant buried in an email somewhere so will have a look for it later.
I tend to agree with Mr Lion, I think we'll tan 'em.
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The only minor concern I have is that if they go 3-5-2, we might get overrun in midfield. Albert is OK at tracking back though, El Ghazi is so-so at it, but Green isn't at all. That said, the way Mings and Axel like to get forward, it's sometimes like having an extra midfielder.
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If they are 352, we need to push El Ghazi and the right forward further up the pitch and keep their wing backs or centre halves busy, then, we push our full backs forward and overload them. They will struggle with SJM's power. Set pieces will be key too!
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The only minor concern I have is that if they go 3-5-2, we might get overrun in midfield. Albert is OK at tracking back though, El Ghazi is so-so at it, but Green isn't at all. That said, the way Mings and Axel like to get forward, it's sometimes like having an extra midfielder.
Another reason why Kodjia out wide is not a valid option. Think El Ghazi could be key in the tie. We overran their midfield in the 2-2 game but both teams have changed a lot since then. I make it at least 5 personnel changes each.
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I know it's a Derby, and games such as these are closer than we want them to be, but I have strong feeling that the game may be beyond the Tesco's before we turn up in sandwell.
3-0 and 2-1.
Kiss of death lol
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This has to be won at VP for me. I don't trust a fine margin to take to the Yawnthorns because Gayle and Rodriguez have a pathological fear of staying upright in the penalty area.
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To the tune of George Ezra's Pretty Shining People (chorus)
Hey Villa boys from Aston
We hate bitter baggies, we hate bitter baggies (repeat)
Just wanted to come up with something different to F-ck the Albion
Come on the Villa boys!
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The only minor concern I have is that if they go 3-5-2, we might get overrun in midfield. Albert is OK at tracking back though, El Ghazi is so-so at it, but Green isn't at all. That said, the way Mings and Axel like to get forward, it's sometimes like having an extra midfielder.
Another reason why Kodjia out wide is not a valid option. Think El Ghazi could be key in the tie. We overran their midfield in the 2-2 game but both teams have changed a lot since then. I make it at least 5 personnel changes each.
Albert looked hella slow against Norwich the other day. He did improve but in the first half he seemed to be running through treacle. Green didn't add anything for me either.
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Have a feeling Chris Brunt will get himself sent off, he's been there forever it's bound to have turned him as rabid as Craig at the Trillion Trophy inn.
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Have a feeling Chris Brunt will get himself sent off, he's been there forever it's bound to have turned him as rabid as Craig at the Trillion Trophy inn.
Brunt always seems to turn into Lothar Matthäus against us. Still, at least they don't also have Shane Long turning into Gerd Müller as well now.
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Have a feeling Chris Brunt will get himself sent off, he's been there forever it's bound to have turned him as rabid as Craig at the Trillion Trophy inn.
Brunt always seems to turn into Lothar Matthäus against us. Still, at least they don't also have Shane Long turning into Gerd Müller as well now.
Yep, but this time he will get his long overdue second yellow the niggly little shitehouse!
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Back in Jan/Feb I was very confident we could make the play-offs if we could rediscover the early December form, get Jack back fit and the new defenders clicked. Now we are there I don't feel very confident at all.
The reasons being I think we have been fluffing too many chances recently and although the defence is massively improved, we always seem to have at least one error in us that always seems to get punished. Plus I can see the meatheads heavily targeting Jack.
We are due a bit of luck against the boggies though so I think we'll sneak the home leg 1-0 or 2-1.
During the ten match winning run, we kept 5 clean sheets, and only conceded 5 goals in total. We scored 23.
Stop worrying!
No side has successfully targeted Grealish. Bring it on, let them try. They will fail. He's not lost in a Villa shirt since October.
Didn't Grealish getting clobbered at Albion lead to him being out injured for two months? Or was that somewhere else?
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Yeah, that game ruined our season (late surge excepted), not to mention being a travesty.
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despite our recent form my main concerns are the early KO - a night game would have been electric - and/or someone losing their head and getting sent off. Otherwise reasonably confident
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despite our recent form my main concerns are the early KO - a night game would have been electric - and/or someone losing their head and getting sent off. Otherwise reasonably confident
I agree, dinner time kick offs aren't in a footballers DNA.
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Back in Jan/Feb I was very confident we could make the play-offs if we could rediscover the early December form, get Jack back fit and the new defenders clicked. Now we are there I don't feel very confident at all.
The reasons being I think we have been fluffing too many chances recently and although the defence is massively improved, we always seem to have at least one error in us that always seems to get punished. Plus I can see the meatheads heavily targeting Jack.
We are due a bit of luck against the boggies though so I think we'll sneak the home leg 1-0 or 2-1.
During the ten match winning run, we kept 5 clean sheets, and only conceded 5 goals in total. We scored 23.
Stop worrying!
No side has successfully targeted Grealish. Bring it on, let them try. They will fail. He's not lost in a Villa shirt since October.
Didn't Grealish getting clobbered at Albion lead to him being out injured for two months? Or was that somewhere else?
Jack was carrying his injury a few weeks before the Baggies game and had to come off because the pain became unbearable...being repeatedly fouled and injured by the Baggies has become another one of those great Villa myths.
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Back in Jan/Feb I was very confident we could make the play-offs if we could rediscover the early December form, get Jack back fit and the new defenders clicked. Now we are there I don't feel very confident at all.
The reasons being I think we have been fluffing too many chances recently and although the defence is massively improved, we always seem to have at least one error in us that always seems to get punished. Plus I can see the meatheads heavily targeting Jack.
We are due a bit of luck against the boggies though so I think we'll sneak the home leg 1-0 or 2-1.
During the ten match winning run, we kept 5 clean sheets, and only conceded 5 goals in total. We scored 23.
Stop worrying!
No side has successfully targeted Grealish. Bring it on, let them try. They will fail. He's not lost in a Villa shirt since October.
Didn't Grealish getting clobbered at Albion lead to him being out injured for two months? Or was that somewhere else?
Jack was carrying his injury a few weeks before the Baggies game and had to come off because the pain became unbearable...being repeatedly fouled and injured by the Baggies has become another one of those great Villa myths.
Precisely KRS.
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To the tune of George Ezra's Pretty Shining People (chorus)
Hey Villa boys from Aston
We hate bitter baggies, we hate bitter baggies (repeat)
Just wanted to come up with something different to F-ck the Albion
Come on the Villa boys!
Aren’t we all Villaaaa? -The answer is easy!
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despite our recent form my main concerns are the early KO - a night game would have been electric - and/or someone losing their head and getting sent off. Otherwise reasonably confident
I agree, dinner time kick offs aren't in a footballers DNA.
The fact we’ve done the double over Blose this season in two midday kick offs suggests that we’re ok with early starts (and have probably had more practice of them than the Bitters).
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I'm going for a 2-0 Villa win.
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It could be a 6am kick off but if our fans can't get up for a play off semi final against our second fiercest rivals then we never will.
Are the club planning any display or flags etc? Wonder if they'll attempt the massive banner again that went wrong against Boro last year.
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It is a strange feeling, knowing that this time next week we will either be planning our Wembley trip (hoping the ticket site does not crash) or preparing ourselves for the visit of Barnsley next season?
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It is a strange feeling, knowing that this time next week we will either be planning our Wembley trip (hoping the ticket site does not crash) or preparing ourselves for the visit of Barnsley next season?
Go and stand in the corner - not even worth thinking about
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They’ve now just managed to sell all their tickets for sat but there are still plenty left for home fans on there night !!.... just no comparison is there
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I find it very amusing that the Tipton Tatters refer to their hovel as the Shrine.
A Shrine to what? Absolute indifference if the masses of empty seats are anything to go by.
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How many tickets would they need to sell? 23k ish? If they don’t manage that for a semi final then they’re even more tinpot that we thought.
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2-0 Villa win
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Apparently, it's been ticket chaos at the Albion. Season ticket holders haven't been able to buy their own seats, hundreds queuing outside to fix the mess-up.
Our ticket sales sound slick compared to theirs!
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They've cancelled season ticket holders having an option on spares now.
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3-1 us.
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How is it, when they have a ground that holds about ten people, that they thought it necessary to have a season ticket holder plus his mate as a sale option anyway?
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Didn't Fulham do the same for the playoff final last season? I was sat next to a few of them on the train back into London after the game, and I was gobsmacked when they said that they had more fans than us and at the game.
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Yes, they could buy 4 tickets per season ticket.
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I'm deeply worried about the fact that pretty much every pundit and journalist has us down to win, and not just this game, but the whole thing. This is the strongest playoff group that I can remember (granted, I didn't pay attention when we weren't in this league). I know we've fucked Derby twice this season but they look to have improved.
And the Throstles, as we learned to our cost, are no mugs (and a shower of cheating C-words to boot).
I will remain concerned.
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Only real decisions for me are Hause or Tayor at LB and Green or Adomah at RW. I would be tempted to go for the former over the latter in both cases with the rest of the team picking itself.
From the Albion callers I have heard on WM in the past couple of weeks, it sounds like they have been playing 3-5-2, which I think could give us opportunities to get at them.
Green? He's hopeless. Adomah hasn't been brilliant, but he's a much better option than Green, and I fully expect Albert to start both games, and the final if we get there.
Got my wingers the wrong way round!! Would definitely start Adomah over Green. It would be a nice time for Albert to have one of his hot streaks.
I would go with:
Steer
Emohamady Tuanzebe Mings Hause
Whelan
Grealish McGinn
Adomah Abraham El Ghazi
Subs: Kalinic, Hutton, Elphick, Hourihane, Lansbury, Kodjia, Davis
Harsh on Taylor and Green, but I think if the former doesn’t start, he probably doesn’t make the squad.
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Didn't Fulham do the same for the playoff final last season? I was sat next to a few of them on the train back into London after the game, and I was gobsmacked when they said that they had more fans than us and at the game.
I believe they could just rock up at their ticket office and have 6 tickets apiece, no questions asked, for the Europa League Final in 2010.
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A little rallying call (old but very apt).
https://twitter.com/av_the_informer/status/1126181217882267650?s=21
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Didn't Fulham do the same for the playoff final last season? I was sat next to a few of them on the train back into London after the game, and I was gobsmacked when they said that they had more fans than us and at the game.
I believe they could just rock up at their ticket office and have 6 tickets apiece, no questions asked, for the Europa League Final in 2010.
Brighton did something similar for their FA cup semi against Man City. The number of tickets that they were allocated was greater than the capacity of their stadium.
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Didn't Fulham do the same for the playoff final last season? I was sat next to a few of them on the train back into London after the game, and I was gobsmacked when they said that they had more fans than us and at the game.
I believe they could just rock up at their ticket office and have 6 tickets apiece, no questions asked, for the Europa League Final in 2010.
Brighton did something similar for their FA cup semi against Man City. The number of tickets that they were allocated was greater than the capacity of their stadium.
Albion would be the same if they got to the final. You get 38,000 tickets so anyone who had ever drove past the Hawthorns or shopped at Tesco would be able to get a ticket. I remember when they got to the final in 2007 against Derby, Albion fans I know who hadn't been to a game for years went to that.
Made me laugh them complaining about only getting 2000 tickets at VP. Last time I looked they were averaging about 1800 away this season so all of their away support and another 200 lucky souls will have got tickets. On the other hand, we averaged around 2700-2800 so we will have actually had loyal fans missing out with the 2000 allocation.
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Didn't Fulham do the same for the playoff final last season? I was sat next to a few of them on the train back into London after the game, and I was gobsmacked when they said that they had more fans than us and at the game.
I believe they could just rock up at their ticket office and have 6 tickets apiece, no questions asked, for the Europa League Final in 2010.
Brighton did something similar for their FA cup semi against Man City. The number of tickets that they were allocated was greater than the capacity of their stadium.
Albion would be the same if they got to the final. You get 38,000 tickets so anyone who had ever drove past the Hawthorns or shopped at Tesco would be able to get a ticket. I remember when they got to the final in 2007 against Derby, Albion fans I know who hadn't been to a game for years went to that.
Made me laugh them complaining about only getting 2000 tickets at VP. Last time I looked they were averaging about 1800 away this season so all of their away support and another 200 lucky souls will have got tickets. On the other hand, we averaged around 2700-2800 so we will have actually had loyal fans missing out with the 2000 allocation.
Is that correct we’ve only given them 2,000 ? Why the reduced allocation ? I’d rather we also had the circa 3000 we normally get at Tesco’s
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2000 is the minimum you have to give in the play-offs.
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Both clubs have stuck to the minimum 2k rule in the play offs. Interestingly Derby and Leeds have given each other 2800 and 2600. Derby charging £20 and Leeds £37!
Been told by an Albion mate of mine that we'll still have the 2600 seats area and they'll just leave 600 empty seats in amongst us.
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I understand that all the attendance money is pooled in the playoffs so clubs don't have any financial incentive to max out away allocations.
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Will we be selling the 900 extra seats?
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Will we be selling the 900 extra seats?
I doubt it. They will be used as segregation and they will have empty seats in their end like when we play Blues and they have 2100.
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I would rather have just given Albion the standard allocation and us receive the same, although didn't we only give them 2100 at VP?
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Didn't Fulham do the same for the playoff final last season? I was sat next to a few of them on the train back into London after the game, and I was gobsmacked when they said that they had more fans than us and at the game.
I believe they could just rock up at their ticket office and have 6 tickets apiece, no questions asked, for the Europa League Final in 2010.
I was talking to a group of them on the tube and they were a mixture of Fulham, Spurs and Chelsea ( there was one Fulham fan).
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Didn't Fulham do the same for the playoff final last season? I was sat next to a few of them on the train back into London after the game, and I was gobsmacked when they said that they had more fans than us and at the game.
I believe they could just rock up at their ticket office and have 6 tickets apiece, no questions asked, for the Europa League Final in 2010.
I was talking to a group of them on the tube and they were a mixture of Fulham, Spurs and Chelsea ( there was one Fulham fan).
Yeh Fulham’s ticket sales were a farce. My Fulham supporting brother and nephew couldn’t get tickets right until the last minute which was only thanks to a supporter who had got extras but was only willing to sell to Fulham fans. This was despite them going to 12 aways and around 10 at home. Out of curiosity what was the minimum number of homes ours went down to for last years final?
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Didn't Fulham do the same for the playoff final last season? I was sat next to a few of them on the train back into London after the game, and I was gobsmacked when they said that they had more fans than us and at the game.
I believe they could just rock up at their ticket office and have 6 tickets apiece, no questions asked, for the Europa League Final in 2010.
I was talking to a group of them on the tube and they were a mixture of Fulham, Spurs and Chelsea ( there was one Fulham fan).
Yeh Fulham’s ticket sales were a farce. My Fulham supporting brother and nephew couldn’t get tickets right until the last minute which was only thanks to a supporter who had got extras but was only willing to sell to Fulham fans. This was despite them going to 12 aways and around 10 at home. Out of curiosity what was the minimum number of homes ours went down to for last years final?
I was chatting to a Fulham fan before the game. He said that he and his son had 6 tickets each; his wife, cousins, Uncle Tom Cobley and all were with him. He was astonished when I told him that our tickets went to fans with an ID.
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I wouldn't give the Stripeys my used bog roll let alone extra tickets, especially given what they did in the cup quarter final.
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I was in a pub in Kings Cross, and there were quite a few Villa Fans buying tickets off Fulham fans
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What was the hullabaloo in the Quarter Final, them ripping up and throwing seats?
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Yeh Fulham’s ticket sales were a farce. My Fulham supporting brother and nephew couldn’t get tickets right until the last minute which was only thanks to a supporter who had got extras but was only willing to sell to Fulham fans. This was despite them going to 12 aways and around 10 at home. Out of curiosity what was the minimum number of homes ours went down to for last years final?
I got a spare ticket for Amfy* with my booking history, which wasn't that much, so I think it was about 3 homes. Reckon there'll be loads more demand this year should we get there.
*Which she then lost outside the ground, bless her!
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What was the hullabaloo in the Quarter Final, them ripping up and throwing seats?
Smashed up the toilets and kiosks I believe.
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They've still got 3000 tickets left for the home game. Tinpot.
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Yeh Fulham’s ticket sales were a farce. My Fulham supporting brother and nephew couldn’t get tickets right until the last minute which was only thanks to a supporter who had got extras but was only willing to sell to Fulham fans. This was despite them going to 12 aways and around 10 at home. Out of curiosity what was the minimum number of homes ours went down to for last years final?
I got a spare ticket for Amfy* with my booking history, which wasn't that much, so I think it was about 3 homes. Reckon there'll be loads more demand this year should we get there.
*Which she then lost outside the ground, bless her!
The spare was for my husband and I lost mine outside the ground!
I had it in my hand and then decided to wave my flag over the balcony for a while. When I decided to put my flag away and go in - HORROR - it had gone! So it was lucky I was able to have my husband’s off him and send him back to the pub! (Where he told the story to Liverpool fans watching the Champions League who all thought he was a hero and bought him drinks all afternoon!)
Even for the FA Cup final it went down to a booking history of only about 4 or 5 - & it was possible to build that up even if you didn’t start till after the quarter final!
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They've still got 3000 tickets left for the home game. Tinpot.
That is quite embarrassing - even for them
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They've still got 3000 tickets left for the home game. Tinpot.
That is quite embarrassing - even for them
more embarrassing for Amfy though 😄
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Yeh Fulham’s ticket sales were a farce. My Fulham supporting brother and nephew couldn’t get tickets right until the last minute which was only thanks to a supporter who had got extras but was only willing to sell to Fulham fans. This was despite them going to 12 aways and around 10 at home. Out of curiosity what was the minimum number of homes ours went down to for last years final?
I got a spare ticket for Amfy* with my booking history, which wasn't that much, so I think it was about 3 homes. Reckon there'll be loads more demand this year should we get there.
*Which she then lost outside the ground, bless her!
It went down to any booking history for that season for the final few tickets.
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I agree the demand will be far greater this season. We've averaged 36k+ in the league, 4k+ more than last season despite finishing in the play offs in both seasons. There is a far greater buzz about the place and about this team. The biggest factor for me however is Smith v Bruce and the football they both play.
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They've still got 3000 tickets left for the home game. Tinpot.
That is quite embarrassing - even for them
Them on the telly though!
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If you've ever purchased an Albion ticket for whatever reason then you can purchase a ticket in the home ends if you really want to be there. They've scrapped their priority system to try and shift the last few thousand tickets.
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Seems they have the same issue selling tickets as they do getting people into the ground.
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Seems they have the same issue selling tickets as they do getting people into the ground.
I think it shows how lacking in confidence they are about the tie and are expecting it to be all over after the first leg.
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Yeh Fulham’s ticket sales were a farce. My Fulham supporting brother and nephew couldn’t get tickets right until the last minute which was only thanks to a supporter who had got extras but was only willing to sell to Fulham fans. This was despite them going to 12 aways and around 10 at home. Out of curiosity what was the minimum number of homes ours went down to for last years final?
I got a spare ticket for Amfy* with my booking history, which wasn't that much, so I think it was about 3 homes. Reckon there'll be loads more demand this year should we get there.
*Which she then lost outside the ground, bless her!
The spare was for my husband and I lost mine outside the ground!
I had it in my hand and then decided to wave my flag over the balcony for a while. When I decided to put my flag away and go in - HORROR - it had gone! So it was lucky I was able to have my husband’s off him and send him back to the pub! (Where he told the story to Liverpool fans watching the Champions League who all thought he was a hero and bought him drinks all afternoon!)
Even for the FA Cup final it went down to a booking history of only about 4 or 5 - & it was possible to build that up even if you didn’t start till after the quarter final!
Reading this has made me feel deeply anxious.
A hero indeed!
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Yeh Fulham’s ticket sales were a farce. My Fulham supporting brother and nephew couldn’t get tickets right until the last minute which was only thanks to a supporter who had got extras but was only willing to sell to Fulham fans. This was despite them going to 12 aways and around 10 at home. Out of curiosity what was the minimum number of homes ours went down to for last years final?
I got a spare ticket for Amfy* with my booking history, which wasn't that much, so I think it was about 3 homes. Reckon there'll be loads more demand this year should we get there.
*Which she then lost outside the ground, bless her!
The spare was for my husband and I lost mine outside the ground!
I had it in my hand and then decided to wave my flag over the balcony for a while. When I decided to put my flag away and go in - HORROR - it had gone! So it was lucky I was able to have my husband’s off him and send him back to the pub! (Where he told the story to Liverpool fans watching the Champions League who all thought he was a hero and bought him drinks all afternoon!)
Even for the FA Cup final it went down to a booking history of only about 4 or 5 - & it was possible to build that up even if you didn’t start till after the quarter final!
Reading this has made me feel deeply anxious.
A hero indeed!
For the 1990 FA Cup tie, we'd queued up early at VP to get our tickets for the Whorethorns. On the way back, we passed their little ground and saw large queues building up.
I wound the window down and waved a large envelope which contained around 50 tickets and said a few friendly words.
Nearly gave the driver, and the guy who had just paid for them all, a heart attack!
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I see according to the Mail Livermore is a big doubt as well as Robson-Kanu out for them.
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Robson-Kanu out for them.
And they have the nerve to call us spawny.
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The sad twats are trying to invoke their greatest ever atmosphere. Which was Swansea apparently. In 1993 third division play off semi final. The tin pot wankers.
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The sad twats are trying to invoke their greatest ever atmosphere. Which was Swansea apparently. In 1993 third division play off semi final. The tin pot wankers.
There’s more atmosphere on the moon than at the Hawthorns. And a higher chance of encountering intelligent life.
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We’re coming for the yam yams.
https://twitter.com/johntownley__/status/1126413377637687296?s=21
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We’re coming for the yam yams.
https://twitter.com/johntownley__/status/1126413377637687296?s=21
Excellent montage...but needs Jacks goals against Derby and Rotherham.
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Good press conference. Reassuring to know that Dean and everyone involved are still level headed and taking each game as it comes.
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Good press conference. Reassuring to know that Dean and everyone involved are still level headed and taking each game as it comes.
Yes. DS has it spot on as usual.
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I'm undecided whether we should play Hause or Tuanzebe alongside Mings or who plays on the wing, Green or Adomah.
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When i was a youth, remember going to Albion quite a few times in the late 70s and always seem to win - therefore as long we don't lose tomorrow, I am confident of getting through.
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We’re coming for the yam yams.
https://twitter.com/johntownley__/status/1126413377637687296?s=21
I would vote for the music to be played at VP- does any one know what it is?
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I'm undecided whether we should play Hause or Tuanzebe alongside Mings or who plays on the wing, Green or Adomah.
Tuanzebe and Adomah, for me.
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We’re coming for the yam yams.
https://twitter.com/johntownley__/status/1126413377637687296?s=21
I would vote for the music to be played at VP- does any one know what it is?
Run Boy Run - Woodkid
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One thing this week has told us is losing the first leg isn't the end of the world. Both sides should think that.
Also I'm not sure home advantage is all that in this game. We won away at Blose, the Bitters won at VP. The players stay in their own homes, it's night like an away leg 250 miles away.
Obviously, if we play to our ability I expect us to win well, but these are largely championship players so I guess if they did that regularly they wouldn't be here in the first place.
I expect the Albion will raise their game of late but we'll just have enough.
Villa to win 2-1. Mings and Tammy.
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I'm undecided whether we should play Hause or Tuanzebe alongside Mings or who plays on the wing, Green or Adomah.
Tuanzebe and Adomah, for me.
Both Axel and Hause are capable of a mistimed challenge (and so is Mings actually) so it’s a tough choice. Hause for me as his partnership with Mings looked very solid and he seemed more comfortable than Axel last week.
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Saturday, 11 May 2019
Sky Bet Championship Play-Off Semi-Final 1st Leg
Aston Villa v West Bromwich Albion (12:30)
GRAHAM SCOTT
Assistants: Neil Davies and Derek Eaton
Fourth Official: Simon Hooper
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I know we haven’t got pre match thread of Tuesdays game yet but officials named for that too ;
Tuesday, 14 May 2019
Sky Bet Championship Play-Off Semi-Final 2ndt Leg
West Bromwich Albion v Aston Villa (20:00 )
CHRISTOPHER KAVANAGH
Assistants: Dan Cook and Sian Massey-Ellis
Fourth Official: Lee Mason
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Are any of those officials notoriously shite?
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Are any of those officials notoriously shite?
It’s the Championship, I just assume they will be until they aren’t.
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Are any of those officials notoriously shite?
It’s the Championship, I just assume they will be until they aren’t.
Both are premiership refs
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Good press conference. Reassuring to know that Dean and everyone involved are still level headed and taking each game as it comes.
Yes. DS has it spot on as usual.
Very calculated and down to earth - you just got to love him.
He comes over as a really nice guy but I am sure he has a real steel about him and would take no shit off any player
Win, lose or draw you can be safe in the knowledge that we will try to win both games - no sit back, keep it tight and hope to nick one with this fella
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I'm undecided whether we should play Hause or Tuanzebe alongside Mings or who plays on the wing, Green or Adomah.
Tuanzebe and Adomah, for me.
Me too. Would then just leave a choice between Hause and Taylor at LB.
They did say on WM that Nyland squad member out injured, so I'm guessing Chester is now fit, but probably nowhere near match ready.
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Difficult job to pick the 18 I reckon.
I reckon he'll go:
Steer
Elmo Tuanzebe Mings Taylor
McGinn Whelan Jack
Adomah Tammy El Ghazi
Subs:
Sarkic
Hause
Jedinak
Green
Lansbury
Hourihane
Kodjia
Freddie Starr
Which would mean the following missing out:
Chester, Elphick, Bjarnason, Davis, Hutton
That 18 gives us defensive back up, plus holding and attacking options as required.
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I only hope the ref is decent in both games, because they will definitely try to cheat as usual. The cheating bastards.
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I can see Freddie Starr missing out, Risso. I’m not sure he’s 100% fit.
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I can see Freddie Starr missing out, Risso. I’m not sure he’s 100% fit.
He's pulled his hamster
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I can see Freddie Starr missing out, Risso. I’m not sure he’s 100% fit.
It was a toss up between him and Bjarnason.
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I think I'd have Davis sub instead of Freddy Starr. Freddy's boots really aren't up to modern pitches.
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Game on AVTV International tomorrow???
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Both are premiership refs
Ace! Those rugger refs don't take any shit.
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Both are premiership refs
Ace! Those rugger refs don't take any shit.
Not sure that's a good thing given the try they scored at the Hawthorns.
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Game on AVTV International tomorrow???
I don't think it is, mate. It's on Sky, so usually if so avtv won't be able to show it. Get the app, Mobdro if you're using Android. You can watch sky sports for free through this app.
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Both are premiership refs
Ace! Those rugger refs don't take any shit.
Not sure that's a good thing given the try they scored at the Hawthorns.
I agree, a blatant knock on...
UTV
The Doc
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Both are premiership refs
Ace! Those rugger refs don't take any shit.
Not sure that's a good thing given the try they scored at the Hawthorns.
I agree, a blatant knock on...
UTV
The Doc
Didn't ground it either.
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Enjoyed this hype video: https://streamable.com/0o5ii
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(https://i.ibb.co/hH1GqvY/59845864-2487928721237434-5373230423482564608-n.jpg) (https://ibb.co/hH1GqvY)
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Game on AVTV International tomorrow???
I don't think it is, mate. It's on Sky, so usually if so avtv won't be able to show it. Get the app, Mobdro if you're using Android. You can watch sky sports for free through this app.
Axel, Which app logo is it? - I had a look when you recommended earlier this week and there are several on the Playstore.
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I don't know if they were discussing the game tomorrow and comparing Albion to us or if they were just talking about more recent times as I only caught the very end of the conversation between Adrian Durham and Darren Gough just on Talksport, but I distinctly heard Adrian Durham call Albion "A nothing club with few achievements".
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Game on AVTV International tomorrow???
I don't think it is, mate. It's on Sky, so usually if so avtv won't be able to show it. Get the app, Mobdro if you're using Android. You can watch sky sports for free through this app.
Axel, Which app logo is it? - I had a look when you recommended earlier this week and there are several on the Playstore.
It's this one, mate.
(https://i.ibb.co/9c6D2hd/Screenshot-20190511-001757.png) (https://ibb.co/9c6D2hd)
https://www.mobdro.sc/
I think you can get it from here, as I'm not sure if it's on the play store.
I've had it for a few years, and it's absolutely great, if a little bit of a pain in the arse to download, if I recall. Let me know if you're able to download it from that link above. If you can't, drop me a PM and I'll go online and find an easier way for you to do it when I wake up tomorrow morning!
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I don't know if they were discussing the game tomorrow and comparing Albion to us or if they were just talking about more recent times as I only caught the very end of the conversation between Adrian Durham and Darren Gough just on Talksport, but I distinctly heard Adrian Durham call Albion "A nothing club with few achievements".
Which is bollocks, and by implication disrespectful to us.
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They've still got 300 left for the home leg. I know crowds aren't everything but what a tinpot outfit.
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I don't know if they were discussing the game tomorrow and comparing Albion to us or if they were just talking about more recent times as I only caught the very end of the conversation between Adrian Durham and Darren Gough just on Talksport, but I distinctly heard Adrian Durham call Albion "A nothing club with few achievements".
Which is bollocks, and by implication disrespectful to us.
It is typical Adrian Durham trying to be a sports 'Shock Jock'. George Gavin tried to reinvent himself as one and was a parody.
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... Let me know if you're able to download it from that link above. If you can't, drop me a PM and I'll go online and find an easier way for you to do it when I wake up tomorrow morning!
Cheers, mate.
All installed, so many thanks.
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I can see Freddie Starr missing out, Risso. I’m not sure he’s 100% fit.
It was a toss up between him and Bjarnason.
Fair enough then. But I’m still not sure we’re allowed 8 subs.
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I think the I speak for us all when I say, fuuuuuuuuuuck the Albion.
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I think the I speak for us all when I say, fuuuuuuuuuuck the Albion.
Sorry, didn't quite catch that.
Did you say Fuuuuck the Albion?
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I think the I speak for us all when I say, fuuuuuuuuuuck the Albion.
Sorry, didn't quite catch that.
Did you say Fuuuuck the Albion?
Not sure I understand? Fuuuuuuuuuuck the Albion you say?
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That's right chaps. Fuuuuuck the Albion, fuuuuck the Albion, fuuuck the Albion.
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This is it...this is what we came for, 2-1 Villa, massive game, I actually think being a derby game this is the hardest game we could get, overcome this and it's full steam ahead.
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Resplendent. You'd think from the pitch it was preseason not the eve of a playoff semi-final
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/D6M4L1BW4AEdZv3.jpg)
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/D6M4O2sW4AAzC2z.jpg)
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/D6M4NfnWsAEwgNa.jpg)
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I don't know if they were discussing the game tomorrow and comparing Albion to us or if they were just talking about more recent times as I only caught the very end of the conversation between Adrian Durham and Darren Gough just on Talksport, but I distinctly heard Adrian Durham call Albion "A nothing club with few achievements".
Which is bollocks, and by implication disrespectful to us.
(https://media.giphy.com/media/hSGBT69A9lf0s/giphy.gif)
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Not sure if it’s the takeaway the wine or tomorrow but I have got butterflies in my stomach
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https://twitter.com/AVFCOfficial/status/1126945143397986306
Aston Villa
Verified account @AVFCOfficial
42m42 minutes ago
Tomorrow.
Be loud.
Be proud.
Be Villa. 🦁
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Resplendent. You'd think from the pitch it was preseason not the eve of a playoff semi-final
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/D6M4L1BW4AEdZv3.jpg)
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/D6M4O2sW4AAzC2z.jpg)
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/D6M4NfnWsAEwgNa.jpg)
It’s a thing of beauty.
Too fucking good for this division.
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Not sure if it’s the takeaway the wine or tomorrow but I have got butterflies in my stomach
You’re not the only one.
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I'm extremely jittery, but that might be the crack cocaine.
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Resplendent. You'd think from the pitch it was preseason not the eve of a playoff semi-final
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/D6M4L1BW4AEdZv3.jpg)
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/D6M4O2sW4AAzC2z.jpg)
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/D6M4NfnWsAEwgNa.jpg)
Magnificent, only surpassed by its pure magnificence and splendour, THIS IS ASTON VILLA FC, we will CONQUER
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I'm extremely jittery, but that might be the crack cocaine.
I'm helped by Magners, sweet, but that might be a sign 8)
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I don't know if they were discussing the game tomorrow and comparing Albion to us or if they were just talking about more recent times as I only caught the very end of the conversation between Adrian Durham and Darren Gough just on Talksport, but I distinctly heard Adrian Durham call Albion "A nothing club with few achievements".
Which is bollocks, and by implication disrespectful to us.
It is typical Adrian Durham trying to be a sports 'Shock Jock'. George Gavin tried to reinvent himself as one and was a parody.
I heard it. They were very respectful about us saying, among other things, how we are a "massive club deserving of being in the top division".
They just didn't seem to think WBA brought anything to the Premier League when they were in it.
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5-1 and a Game we will always remember
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5-1 and a Game we will always remember
Oh Yes!!!!!
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For any of the lads looking in tonight GLADIATORS ARE YOU READY....
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I feel funny
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before i retire for the night good luck tomorrow or should i say later today
i,m going for a 1 nil villa win
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before i retire for the night good luck tomorrow or should i say later today
i,m going for a 1 nil villa win
Thank you.
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Every piece I read and everything I hear predicts that we'll be promoted. I hate this.
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Bloody Mods! When it needs doing, it needs doing properly! Soul Power!
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So bloody nervous. Not sure if I'll sleep tonight. Head says 1-0, heart says 4-0. Scared to sleep as nightmare says 0-2.
FTA.
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I’ve just told Mrs Ozvilla about the game tonight. I told her whatever happens it’s only a game - that way if it turns out badly she’ll not realise the disappointment - who am I trying to kid? Getting nervous now.
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Not nervous at about this. We will win unless something really bad happens like a red card etc.
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Remarkably relaxed about the whole thing...I'm sure it will be different walking up to Villa Park and as soon as the game kicks off.
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I’m relaxed not out of overconfidence. But because the team will have been prepared correctly by the manager and his staff. That we will have game plan that if executed will garner the desired result. That we won’t just play the one style but will modify our approach based on the opponent. That we have Jack Grealish who wants nothing more than to lead HIS team to the PL playing for man who has loved OUR club for a very long time.
We may not win. But it won’t be for a lack of dedication or preparation or desire. But I think we will and I believe we will be a PL club on May 27th. So let tomorrow roll on.
https://twitter.com/skybet/status/1126809610311041027?s=12
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I’m relaxed not out of overconfidence. But because the team will have been prepared correctly by the manager and his staff. That we will have game plan that if executed will garner the desired result. That we won’t just play the one style but will modify our approach based on the opponent. That we have Jack Grealish who wants nothing more than to lead HIS team to the PL playing for man who has loved OUR club for a very long time.
We may not win. But it won’t be for a lack of dedication or preparation or desire. But I think we will and I believe we will be a PL club on May 27th. So let tomorrow roll on.
Spot on regarding the reason for confidence.
We're effective by design, that's why I'm so confident. Well that and the crack cocaine.
*I'm joking about the crack. Kids, don't do drugs.
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I’m relaxed not out of overconfidence. But because the team will have been prepared correctly by the manager and his staff. That we will have game plan that if executed will garner the desired result. That we won’t just play the one style but will modify our approach based on the opponent. That we have Jack Grealish who wants nothing more than to lead HIS team to the PL playing for man who has loved OUR club for a very long time.
We may not win. But it won’t be for a lack of dedication or preparation or desire. But I think we will and I believe we will be a PL club on May 27th. So let tomorrow roll on.
https://twitter.com/skybet/status/1126809610311041027?s=12
I'm in the same boat. Good post
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I would love to be as confident as others, but Villa never do things easy. I'm going to both games and expect it to go to the last minute of the second leg.
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I would love to be as confident as others, but Villa never do things easy. I'm going to both games and expect it to go to the last minute of the second leg.
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I'd play Hourihane instead of Whelan in this game, then Whelan in for the second semi. Also, I'd prefer to see Hause at Left back - harsh on Taylor but Hause is quicker and has a greater physical presence with his height.
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I’m relaxed not out of overconfidence. But because the team will have been prepared correctly by the manager and his staff. That we will have game plan that if executed will garner the desired result. That we won’t just play the one style but will modify our approach based on the opponent. That we have Jack Grealish who wants nothing more than to lead HIS team to the PL playing for man who has loved OUR club for a very long time.
We may not win. But it won’t be for a lack of dedication or preparation or desire. But I think we will and I believe we will be a PL club on May 27th. So let tomorrow roll on.
https://twitter.com/skybet/status/1126809610311041027?s=12
I think I love you
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Just f^*k the f^*kers. I'm going for a 4-1 win. They won't be able to handle the white hot atmosphere at Villa Park.
Go up, so when I come home in August I catch watch Villa in the Premier League.
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Glad we have the early kick off, so I don't have to worry all day about the game. Sunderland fan I work with is not thrilled about their playoff kicking off at 7:30pm.
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... Let me know if you're able to download it from that link above. If you can't, drop me a PM and I'll go online and find an easier way for you to do it when I wake up tomorrow morning!
Cheers, mate.
All installed, so many thanks.
Good stuff, mate. Enjoy!
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Come on Villa boys, let's do this! Our season starts again today and a little winning run of 3 games would be nice! Let's keep our discipline on the pitch and with the full support of the fans and Dean's greater experience on the bench we can come away from today with a win, which will set us up nicely for Tuesday because I think we can come away from the bitters with a result. UTV!
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Remarkably relaxed about the whole thing...I'm sure it will be different walking up to Villa Park and as soon as the game kicks off.
I’m shitting myself, I’ll be ok once the game starts (pre match beer will help)
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I’m relaxed not out of overconfidence. But because the team will have been prepared correctly by the manager and his staff. That we will have game plan that if executed will garner the desired result. That we won’t just play the one style but will modify our approach based on the opponent. That we have Jack Grealish who wants nothing more than to lead HIS team to the PL playing for man who has loved OUR club for a very long time.
We may not win. But it won’t be for a lack of dedication or preparation or desire. But I think we will and I believe we will be a PL club on May 27th. So let tomorrow roll on.
https://twitter.com/skybet/status/1126809610311041027?s=12
The first reply on there is from a bluenose. Swiftly followed by several of their olbayun bum chums copying each other with the obligitory and very childish sotv. Theres more of them two and leeds commenting on a video about us than villa. Says it all. We've got em rattled. Come on villa lets make villa park a cauldron and send them packing with their tail between their legs.
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I'm the opposite to most of you on here. I'm shitting bricks!
My brain says we should overcome them, but something inside keeps reminding me that this is Villa we're talking about, and we're playing that cheating lot who we are yet to beat this season from down the road.
Hope I'm pleasantly surprised. Miss Nii Lamptey Jnr thinks it's going to be 5-1 Villa. I'd take that! ;)
COME ON YOU VILLA BOYS!!!
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I'm not nervous at all but really up for it.
After some thought, I'd start Adomah and Tuanzebe. Green might be the better impact sub. Who knows, he might throw a spanner in the works and play an extra midfielder? Hourihane just behind Abraham? Either way, I hope we murder them.
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Cold light of day, as they say, today's the day, let's face it, we need one of those moments, that special thing, we turn up, play out of our skins and put in a performance that beggars belief but it just happens.
Jack take the boys to victory.
Come on you Villa boys.
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Cold light of day, as they say, today's the day, let's face it, we need one of those moments, that special thing, we turn up, play out of our skins and put in a performance that beggars belief but it just happens.
Jack take the boys to victory.
Come on you Villa boys.
Do we fuck.
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Can anyone share that Villa Lion slaying the Albion bird pic that was going round for the FA Cup Semi....?
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I'm a bit edgey about it. Do we have everyone fit?
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I'm a bit edgey about it. Do we have everyone fit?
Apart from Nyland yes.
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3-1 Villa win today.
2-2 on Tuesday.
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Has anyone else had strange things happening with their tickets for today? I bought 2 and asked them to be loaded to our season tickets then yesterday 1 paper ticket arrived in the post.
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Come on you Villa boys!
Fuck the fuckers...and when you get there, fuck the fuckers from there too...then fuck the fuckers some more...keep fucking the fuckers until you get back here...then fuck the fuckers again!
Fuck the Albion!
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Unusually confident.
That’s a bad sign.
Also it’s only the fist leg. No need to get over excited in last 10 minutes if it’s all square.
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Confident about today, apart from the Baggies front two they don't have anybody else to be fearful of.
Albion have a rookie manager and a woeful defence, come on you Villa boys show no fear.
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I would love to be as confident as others, but Villa never do things easy. I'm going to both games and expect it to go to the last minute of the second leg.
The last minute of the second leg, Tammy will rise to punch the ball into the net to win the game. Justice will be served.
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Midfield is key for me. Whelan over Hourihane as McGinn can out run any 2/3 they put in there.
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Just having some pre game lubrication , we need to be loud and hostile today . Make the baggies shit themselves like blues last year
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Feeling very edgy but quietly confident, my 2 sons got tickets but Dad didnt, I'm a terrible watcher on TV and I usually end up at various points disappearing into other rooms cleaning for England then nervously returning to the TV to check how things are going, 2-1 Villa
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Villa 2-1 and Derby 2-1 will do nicely (77/1) thanks